The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to two finalists.
The school board plans to choose between an internal candidate, Jane Berenz, and Stillwater Superintendent Keith Ryskoski when it names a leader for the state's fourth-largest school district.
The board picked the pair Tuesday night from a pool of four semifinalists that also included the district's director of elementary education, Julie Olson, and Lakeville Superintendent Gary Amoroso.
Berenz, a graduate of Apple Valley High School, has worked for the district for 22 years.
She started out as a special education and elementary classroom teacher, then rose through the ranks to become director of teaching and learning, a post she has held since 2004. Along the way, she has served as principal of Parkview Elementary, principal on special assignment and director of elementary education.
Ryskoski has been the schools chief in Stillwater since 2005.
Before that, he spent four years as the district's director of administrative services and technology. He was principal of Eagle Ridge Junior High School in Savage from 1997 to 2001 and has held the top job at a middle school in Neenah, Wis. He has also taught science in Maryland and Illinois.
The school board will hold second interviews with Ryskoski and Berenz on May 4 and 5. District residents and staff members can meet the candidates at the district's main office in Rosemount before the interviews, both of which are slated for 6:30 p.m.
